RESTORATION OF THE OLE
HORNBINE SCHOOL

By Doris
Johnson (1970)

In
1969, several historically-minded citizens attempted to arouse interest
in the
purchasing and restoring of the old Hornbine School. Efforts of this
small
group met with defeat - most people seemed to feel that the building
was not
worth restoration and that the purchase price was too high.

The
building had ceased to be used as a schoolhouse in 1937. It had been
sold, by
the town, at a public auction for $325. Over the years, the building
had been
used for storage, as a summer residence, and then had remained empty
for many
years.

Mrs.
Ester A Hopkins, who passed away in 1978, taught the school for the
last ten
years that classes were held there.

The
earliest records we have found indicate that the schoolhouse was built
in the
“new” District No 10 during the year 1845-46. Calvin Carpenter was the
teacher
for the winter term in 1847.

The
idea of restoring the old school as a project during the 325th
Anniversary
celebration of the Town of Rehoboth was suggested. A group of
interested
citizens became the Hornbine School Association with Edmond Tessier,
president;
Gardner Borden, treasurer; and Miss Jeanette Vincent, secretary. As
this group
was not incorporated it could not buy property. The Rehoboth Lions Club
offered
to be the temporary trustee.

A
group of pupils from the Dighton-Rehoboth Regional High School, under
the
direction of James Marcotte, produced a “show” on two nights - proceeds
to be
used for the Hornbine School. These ambitious teen-agers earned $1,100
for the
fund.

A
few voluntary contributions were received. But the price of the school
was
$2,500 and the committee still didn’t have that much money.

Joseph
DeRoche of the Lions Club and Robert
Trim of the Anawan Historical Society had started work on the building
but got
very little help. Some Boy Scouts had started cleaning the yard.

In
the meantime other things were happening. Some of the high school
students who
were to present the benefit performance visited the various schools in
town
giving excerpts from their entertainment to help their ticket sales.
This
started the fourth graders at North Rehoboth School asking questions
about what
the school was really like in the “old days” - the beginning of a fine
social
studies project. One hundred years ago was the time decided on for the
study.
The children and teacher researched the period directly following the
Civil
War. They studied the clothing, food, home life, the important people
of the
time, the music, poetry - even the games that were played. Miss Dorothy
L.
Beckwith, Elementary Supervisor, suggested that the children and their
teacher
spend a typical old-time school day at the old schoolhouse. This idea
was
greeted with enthusiasm, and mothers started making costumes for their
children. The North Rehoboth P.T.A. helped with this. The date was set
for May
28th.

The
committee planning a tour of old churches and houses in town decided to
have
the tour on the day the children would be in class in the Hornbine
School. It
was felt that this would add interest to the tour.

Then
the committees were told that the work on the school had progressed
very slowly
and the school would not be ready. Furthermore, the association didn’t
have
enough money to buy the building.

A
small group of citizens interested in the work of the school children
and the
tour offered to conduct a financial drive under the direction of D. Lee
Johnson. People, in oldtime costumes, riding in antique cars canvassed
the
town. The drive was successful. Now, the Hornbine School Association
had the
necessary funds to buy the land and buildings.

North
Rehoboth Day was held - many people from that section of the town came
to work
at the school. Individuals furnished money, materials, and equipment
for other
projects. The yard was cleared of brush and twelve huge loads of
rubbish. The
old beyond-repair out buildings were knocked down and removed. The
school
building was completely cleaned and repainted. Mrs. Myron Reese and a
group of
teen-agers painted the inside of the building. Poison ivy was sprayed
by the
tree warden. The yard was raked and reraked, mowed and remowed.
Countless
people gave their time and talents.

The
outside of the schoolhouse had new clapboards put on where needed - and
many
were needed. Then gleaming white paint was applied. A number of window
panes
were replaced. Inside, a new sand-finish ceiling was put up. This was
one of
the few jobs that had to be paid for. Again, many teen-agers spent many
hours
working with the carpenters and other skilled persons who gave so much
of their
time. Furnishings and books have been donated. Some twenty desks and
chairs
were given by two Vermont towns in the Plainfield-Marshfield region.
Lee
Johnson and William Francis went to Montpelier with Richard Chase’s
truck and
brought back the desks. It has indeed been a community project!

The
workers received personal commendation from Mrs. Lyndon B. Johnson for
their
fine cooperation in helping to beautify the Town of Rehoboth while
restoring a
building of historical significance. President and Mrs. Johnson have
presented
the town with a flag for the school.

We
should add that the school was ready for the fourth graders on May
28th. They
enjoyed the culmination of the best social studies project that they
had ever
taken part in, and the school was a favorite stop on the tour.

The
Hornbine School now belongs to the Town of Rehoboth - under the
jurisdiction of
the Rehoboth Historical Commission - and is cared for by the Hornbine
School
Association, Inc.